Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 5300’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘COSEH 5300’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; single purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘COSEH 5300’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5100’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,772

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5200’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,786

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5400’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,792

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘COSEH 5300’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in December, 2011 of a unnamed selection of Helleborus x ericsmithii, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and an unnamed selection of Helleborus x hybridus, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in November, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since April, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘COSEH 5300’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘COSEH 5300’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are taller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have purple-colored flowers         whereas plants of the female parent selection have cream-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are taller than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5100’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5100’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5100’ have light yellow green and red purple to greyed purple bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5200’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5200’ in growth and flowering habit as plants of the new Helleborus are more vigorous and more freely flowering than plants of ‘COSEH 5200’.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5400’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5400’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5400’ have white and red purple bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x hybridus ‘Anna's Red’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,720 (known as ‘ABCRD02’, also known as ‘Anna's Red’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘Anna's Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Helleborus have less distinct         venation than leaves of plants of ‘Anna's Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus flower earlier than plants of         ‘Anna's Red’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are purple-colored         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Anna's Red’ are red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘COSEH 5300’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘COSEH 5300’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during December in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 12° C. Plants were 14 months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x     hybridus ‘COSEH 5300’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             ericsmithii, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             hybridus, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at             temperatures about 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days             at temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             mounding plant habit with flowers held within and above the             foliar plane; plant shape, roughly flattened globular;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and rapid             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 27.8             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 41 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 46.8 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves             palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 16.1 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 19.1 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 11 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 5.8 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; reniform in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate to obovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate; slightly undulate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; moderately glossy.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             137B; midvein, close to 187C. Developing leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 147B strongly dotted and blotched with             close to 187A; midvein, close to 187A. Fully developed             leaflets, upper surface: Close to darker than between 147A             and N189A; venation, close to 147B. Fully developed             leaflets, lower surface: Close to 143B and towards the base,             close to 200C; venation, close to 152B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 14.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to             6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly to moderately glossy.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B; densely             covered with fine dots, close to 200D and proximally, closer             to 200B to 200C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers; flowers             slightly to moderately cupped; arranged solitary or in             clusters with about ten flowers each; freely flowering habit             with about 20 flowers developing per plant; flowers facing             outwardly to slightly nodding.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten             months after planting; plants flower during the late autumn             into the winter in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four months;             sepals persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Ovate to oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 182D; venation, close to             184B and 184C.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 43 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 21.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 9 cm by 9 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.9 cm.         -   Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 4.1 cm.             Shape: Broadly obovate to broadly elliptic, slightly             concave. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Truncate to rounded and             cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 186B and 186C and             distally, close to 186A and 186B to 186C.

When opening, lower surface: Close to 186B to 186C and distally, close to 186A; venation, close to 59C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N77B and proximally, close to 186A; with development, close to N77A and proximally, close to N77A to N77B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to between N77B and 186A and proximally, close to 186B; with development, close to N77A and proximally, close to between N77A and N186D.

-   -   -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one or two.             Length: About 9.8 cm. Width: About 5.6 cm. Shape: Ovate to             broadly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Distally, serrate and proximally, entire; coarsely undulate.             Color, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to             187A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close             to 187A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 34 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to             8 mm. Aspect: About 10° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 146C; heavily and finely dotted, close to             200C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: About 15° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 174D, densely and finely dotted with             close to 182D and 200D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower:             About 100. Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color:             Close to NN155C, distally, close to 69C. Anther shape:             Double and broadly reniform; basifixed. Anther size: About 2             mm by 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 150C. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: About three to seven. Pistil length: About 1.3 cm.             Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style length: About 1.15 cm.             Style color: Close to 184B. Ovary color: Close to 183C to             183D. Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per flower:             About 13. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape:             Tubular, flattened. Texture and luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,             immature, inner and outer surfaces: Close to N144D,             distally, close to 152A. Color, mature, inner and outer             surfaces: Close to 146D, distally, close to 153D and             proximally, close to 152B; with development, close to 146D,             distally, close to 153B and proximally, close to 152B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus.

-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9.

-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 5300’ as illustrated and described. 